Premenstrual syndrome

Home Care

Emotional support, and in some cases counseling, are recommended.

If a medication is causing increased appetite and weight gain, your health care provider may decrease your dosage or recommend a different drug. Never stop taking your medication without first talking to your health care provider.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

You have an unexplained, persistent increase in appetite

You have other unexplained symptoms

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your health care provider will exam you, weigh you,and ask questions about your medical history. exam. You also may have a psychological evaluation.

Questionsmay include:

Eating habits

Have you changed your eating habits?

Have you begun dieting?

Do you have concerns about your weight?

What do you eat in a typical day?

How much do you eat?

Medication

What medications are you taking?

Are you taking any new medications, or have you changed the dose of your medications?

Do you use any illicit drugs? If so, which ones?

Time pattern

Does the hunger occur during the sleep period?

Does the hunger seem to occur in a pattern related to your menstrual cycle?

Lower digestive anatomy - illustration

Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. The residue is then eliminated from the body as feces.

Lower digestive anatomy

illustration

Lower digestive anatomy - illustration

Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. The residue is then eliminated from the body as feces.